By TOM BENSEN
The 2014 Humanities Montana Festival of the Book will take place October 9-11 in Missoula. Last year’s Humanities Montana Festival of the Book celebrated the literature of the West with over 80 authors in downtown Missoula, including Rick Bass, Malcolm Brooks, David James Duncan, Pete Fromm, Poet Laureate Tami Haaland, Walter Kirn, William Kittredge, Annick Smith and musical guest Stellarondo. Two days and three nights of readings, panels, exhibits, demonstrations, signings, workshops, entertainments, receptions, and other special events are free and open to the public. Venues included the Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park, the Missoula Art Museum, the Wilma Theatre, and the Missoula Public Library. Included in the festival is Tell Us Something at the Top Hat, October 9 at 6:00 p.m., with the theme as The Things We Carry.
Current exhibits at the Missoula Art Museum include Bill Ohrmann: Tainted Revelations through October 11; Blessingway: Prints by Melanie Yazzie through October 11; The Art of Human Conflict Conflict through December 24;
Pamela Caughey: Ubiquitous: Migration of Pathogens through December 2; Helen McAuslan: The Kent State Paintings, on loan from the Museum of the Rockies, through November 22; Crossing the River: Hmong Story Cloths through December 24; Kate Hunt: Recent Works through February 21, 2015; Elizabeth Dove: Corpus of the Unknowable through January 31, 2015.
The City of Missoula Public Art Committee has extended the deadline for two art calls in Silver Park. The deadline is today, October 6. Visit the website for all information and the application.
The Montana Museum of Art & Culture presents Amanda Browder: End of the Infinite opening October 16, running through January 10, 2015 in the Meloy Gallery, and Vanessa German: Bitter Root from October 16 -January 10 in the Paxson Gallery. On Thursday, October 16, from 5:00-7:45p.m., there is an conversation with visiting artist Amanda Browder in the Masquer Theater, followed by a reception for the artist in the PARTV Center Lobby from 5:45 – 7:00 p.m.
The 10th annual Outdoor Sculptre Show at Caras Nursery is on display now through October 15, located at 2727 South 3rd West.
Zootown Arts Community Center presents Free and Family Friendly Festival of the Dead Workshops: October 9 – November 1 – Big (Wearable) Heads; October 12 – Steamroller Print Making; October 15 – Sugar Skulls; October 18 – Shrine Building I; October 22 – Shrine Building II; November 2 – Face Painting before the Missoula Festival of the Dead Parade.
Fact & Fiction presents the He Said, She Said Author Road Show with Wendelin Van Draanen and Mark Huntley Parsons discussing the writing process and signing books, including Road Rash, Flipped, Sammy Keyes at 5:30 p.m. on October 9 at F&F Downtown.
The UM School of Music Student Ensemble Series presents the third annual Choral Gala, featuring University Choir, Women’s Chorus and Chamber Chorale, at 7:30 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre on October 6. This performance will include music from multiple continents in an electric blend of styles and cultures. Solo and small-group performances also will be featured. Call 243-2441.
The UM School of Music presents the 7th annual Pianissimo! concerts October 10 and 11, at 7:30 p.m., at the Music Recital Hall. Featuring nine pianos, over 30 pianists and a rollicking good time, this fun and lighthearted concert has something for everyone. For tickets go to GrizTix, or stop by the Adams Center Box Office.
The World Affairs Council of Montana presents Council in the Classroom, offering students a unique opportunity to engage with diplomats, dignitaries, and international experts from around the world. With just a few clicks, classrooms in all corners of the state are connected to distinguished speakers through this live, interactive videoconferencing tool. On October 8, the program presents “Hope is Not Lost” with John Dau, one of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” author of the book God Grew Tired of Us. To sign up, or to find out if your school has the capability to connect, contact Alli DePuy. The World Affairs council will also When cocktail reception for John Dau on Wednesday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Missoula Children’s Theatre. To learn more, call 728-3328 or e-mail aryan.
The Montana Natural History Center presents the Fall Celebration Dinner and Auction October 10 at 5:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel. Call 327-0405 for more information.
The 2014 Humanities Montana Festival of the Book will take place October 9-11 in Missoula.
TheLoft of Missoula presents Chris Buzan and The Levitators on October 10 at 7:30 p.m., with Chris Buzan, Robert Harsch, Mike Hurd, Jay Kirby, Dave Martin, Pat Montgomery, and Bob Zimorino. The Loft is located upstairs in the LaFlesch Building, 119 W. Main Street (yellow building across from the parking garage). $5 suggested donation and all money collected goes to the musicians.
The final open call entry deadline for the 2015 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival is October 14. The festival will take place February 6-16, 2015 in downtown Missoula at the historic Wilma Theater, Top Hat Lounge, and Crystal Theater. This event is the largest documentary film festival in the American West, the largest cinema event in Montana, and a must-see destination for filmmakers and documentary devotees the world over. Submit Your Film here
The Friendship Force of Missoula and Western Montana are holding a Membership Night at the Montgomery Distillery October 15, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Bring friends and socialize.
Missoula Community Access Television (MCAT) offers the Third Annual “Do It in 72” hours or less film contest. Contestants will get 72 hours to make a short movie to compete for prizes of $500, $300 and $100.00. The completed short film (under five minutes) can be any style or subject but must be shot & edited within three days. MCAT is going to release the three elements that have to be in the movie 72 hours before the deadline of Monday, October 13 at 5:00 p.m. To enter, contestants should come to MCAT on Friday, October 10 at 5:00 p.m. and hear about the three elements that have to be in the film. In past years the elements have included a particular line of dialogue, a location, or the display of certain numbers in a scene of the completed film. MCAT can also lend equipment to contestants given enough advance notice. MCAT is located at 500 North Higgins. The completed films will be screened at the Roxy Theater on Saturday October 25 at 7:00 p.m. and the prize money will be awarded to the winners. Entering the contest is free and open to participants of all ages. Contestants can make their movie on a smart phone, point and shoot camera or sophisticated equipment. The judges are looking for originality and spirit. For more information visit MCAT’s website, or call Joel at 542-6228.
A Carousel for Missoula, a volunteer-built, hand-carved carousel in Caras Park, will be the topic of the Art Associates of Missoula monthly meeting. Please join us Wednesday, October 15, at 10:00 a.m. in Caras Park at the carousel to learn more about the carousel and its Painted Ponies! Art Associates meetings are free and open to the public. For more information please call Susie at 544-0891
The International Choral Festival and the UM School of Music will present their annual benefit performance of George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah” on Sunday, November 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Dennison Theatre on the UM campus. This free concert is a beloved community sing-a-long with a volunteer chorus, which has delighted local singers and audiences annually since 1995. The chorus will be conducted by Dr. David Edmonds, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Montana, and accompanied by an orchestra of professional area musicians. And, honorable Mayor John Engen will be there too to welcome everyone and to mark the official kick-off of the holiday season in Missoula with this concert.
Join the Chorus by signing-up online at either website. The concert is free to the public, but as a fundraiser, singers are required to raise or donate a minimum of $75 to join the chorus ($40 for students), and are encouraged to obtain sponsorships from friends and family that exceed these minimums. Exciting prizes such as overnights with deluxe lodging, float trips, gift certificates, etc. will be awarded to those singers who bring in the highest level of sponsorships. Proceeds will equally support Missoula’s 10th International Choral Festival scheduled for July 13-17, 2016, and the UM School of Music students traveling to Vienna.
Out of the Box Productions presented by MCT, Inc. announces a return engagement of The Woman in Black. This dark thriller combines the power and intensity of live theatre with the dark style of film noir. Performances nightly at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, October 9-12 at the Missoula First United Methodist Church (300 E Main). Tickets on sale now for $15.00, which includes a $5.00 credit towards
a meal at Five on Black Brazilian Grill-the show’s sponsor. Purchase. Seating is general admission. Tickets available online at the MCT web site, by calling 728-7529 or at the door.
The University of Montana School of Theatre & Dance presents Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand October 7-11 and October 14-18 at 7:30 p.m. in the Montana Theatre, PARTV Center, U of M Campus.
Missoula’s premier vocal ensemble Dolce Canto has produced a new audio compilation of Christmas music entitled, “A Joyful Season.” This new recording includes a wide selection of familiar carols, spirituals, and contemporary compositions that you will want to share with your family and loved ones during the holiday season. To celebrate the CD’s release, the choir will host a free public event at the Downtown Dance Collective (121 W. Main St.) on Saturday, October 18, at 6:00 p.m. The CD release party will feature refreshments, social time with the choir, and live a cappella singing. For more information, visit the DolceCanto website.
Learn Aikido, the martial art of harmony, with a 4 Week Fall Intro for beginning adults starts Tuesday, October 21 at 5:30 p.m. This class meets Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., through November 13. For more information, visit the website.
The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre directors, dancers, musicians, Native Americans, performance artists, Missoulian videographer, and crew are traveling to China to perform the Destination Missoula program to Beijing, and throughout the Henan and Guangxi Provinces. While in China, RMBT will perform for Ambassador Max Baucus and his wife Melodee, Chinese Cultural and Foreign affairs officials, USA embassy and consulate officials and for many large Chinese audiences. Additional funds are still needed to cover our remaining expenses. Visit the Kickstarter page to donate.
For more information about arts events in the Missoula area, visit our website.
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Tom Bensen has lived in Missoula since 1986, and has been the executive director of the Missoula Cultural Council since June 2004. He has directed First Night Missoula each New Year’s Eve since 1997. He is a member of Missoula’s choral ensemble Dolce Canto, and enjoys being outdoors, whether it is hiking, biking, skiing, walking the dogs, or mowing the lawn. His wife Susan works for Montana Public Radio, and their son Peter attends Hellgate High School.